The Promise of a New Dawn

   Cyprus is a country I have visited many times and the photographs I have included in this post are ones I took many years ago in and around the capital Nicosia.

    With so many bad news stories coming from all over the world at present, it is nice to read some while not good news, but promising news.

    The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, due to a Turkish invasion, sanctioned by Athens, Greece, in response to an attempted military coup. This in turn caused the country to split into two, with residents being uprooted from their homes and land.

    Turkish Cypriots having to leave their homes in the south and Greek Cypriots having to abandon their homes and life in the north. Which now means that Greek-Cypriots now live on the south of the island and Turkish-Cypriots living in the north. A buffer zone in Nicosia, is policed by the UN, its airport, hotels and commercial areas lie abandoned. Time standing still; frozen in 1974.

    However, talks to reunify the island have been taking place in Geneva, and they say that a deal is close to being agreed.

    We can only hope that an agreement can be made. In the words of American essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, (1803-1882 ) "Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn."

It's All About the Place

     I occasionally talk about movies, although I don't watch too many, as I would rather be reading, or writing. However, some new releases do catch my attention and that's usually because I have visited the location where they are about to start filming or have filmed.

    Therefore, the one that has caught my attention this week is the sci-fi feature, Realive (aka Project Lazurus). It is being premiered in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands on Friday 13th. The reason I'm excited about the release, is because of one of the locations used. I have featured pictures of this location, many times before in my blog post, and it's my favourite place in the world.

    So, I thought I would share some more of my pictures.    

   

  'Proyecto Lazaro' Directed and writer of screenplay Mateo Gil, due for release Spain 13th January 2017. US dates to be announced. Cast includes : Tom Hughes, Charlotte Le Bon, Oona Chaplin.
Arcadia Motion pictures.

Brushing Away the Dust

    Looking through a list of national days yesterday morning, I read with some amusement that today is, National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Another one of those days that I didn't  know existed, but most definitely should observe.

    I read that no-one really knows its origin, however personally glancing around my workspace it's probably a day I would be better observing once a month rather than once a year. Instead of the second Monday in January, I could partake in a desk clean up the second Monday of every month.

   Then again after a few moments of thought, you know things aren't so bad. Everything is close at hand, notebooks, pens, pencils, paperclips and large sheets of A4 paper. As well as a few other personal nick-nacks, which to me are similar to that of a kids comfort blanket. These little mementos give me a sense of security, help me be productive.

    Oh well, I'm not sure I can do the clean off your desk thing. Do you think dusting lightly counts as a mark of respect?

#CleanOffYourDeskDay #writerslife

Making My Year a Great One

  

    Whether, as a newbie author you have decided  to self-publish, or have a publishing contract with a small independent publisher as I have for two of my three books, it's important that you self-promote. It's not easy trying to spin all the plates, however social media I believe makes it simpler.

    I now know, that I should have had a blog, and accounts with Twitter and Facebook long before my debut hit the printing press. Launching myself initially on Twitter and Blogger was a big step as I had previously shunned away from social media.

 
    On a personal basis I do find it all a little intrusive, but my business head tells me it is a necessity. It is a medium to reach a worldwide audience, an audience that I would never reach otherwise.

    This week I have ventured even further into the unknown and opened an, Instagram account. If you are a regular visitor to this blog you will know that I am really into pictures, so for me it is the correct choice I believe.

    Please keep up with me via any of the networking sites I mentioned, I'd love you too. You' make my New Year a great one. 

www.instagram.com/christinarowellauthor

Starry, Starry Night, A Crazy Muse

  

    With all the changes that have taken place over the centuries the world is now unrecognisable. However, there is something that we see, that is more, or less the same as it was hundreds of years ago. That is the night sky.

    The painter Vincent van Gogh told his tumultuous story through his paintings and starry skies featured in several, such as, Starry Night Over the Rhone and Saint-Remy-de-Provence.

   Looking up at the night sky a couple of days ago, I started to think about those planets that shine upon us. Imagining if I lived on one of them, say for example 120 light years away. The view I would see in my twinkling night sky would include Earth. Van Gogh would be painting Starry Night Over the Rhone, as I was sipping my hot-chocolate.

    Yeah, a little crazy musing, but all part of a writers life.






    

    

No Spinning Required

    I decided a few weeks ago that it was time to get rid of my collection of vinyl records. Yes, they are becoming fashionable again, however it's unlikely that I'm going to relive my teenage years and sit crossed-legged in front of a spinning turntable. So, it was time to find them a good home.

    However, looking through the well worn sleeves, there were two that tugged at my heartstrings and I decided the best home that they could have was my own.

    The two I decided to keep hold of were the original, Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas? and the album, Sing It Again Rod, by Rod Stewart.

    I did find a good home for the others and the two I mentioned, now hang proudly on my study wall. Where I can fondly look at them with no cramped legs, or spinning required.

Happy New Year Friends!

   

Goodwill to all Men

 

    The presents are wrapped, the wine rack is groaning and the fridge freezer is bursting at the seams. I believe I am organised for the Sunday. But am I? Who knows. I'll tell you the next time we catch up.

    I have a list written and it's not my wish list for Santa. It's my schedule for the next big event in my household, defrosting and cooking the food. Starting Friday night.


    Christmas, is no longer a religious time for many, however it is a time that we can gather together with friends and family and celebrate humanity. That is if we are blessed to have people around us to do so and of course there are countless people who do not.

    What is humanity? Compassion, kindness, tolerance, benevolence are some of the characteristics. Daily we know that there are many appalling attacks on these. But, while the rest of us can embrace these virtues, it is time to wish, Goodwill to all Men.

    Merry Christmas readers.